The National Geographic Magazine
(C) 1U1 by Urabill
William F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill" (left), Points Out a Hostile Indian Camp
He is a scout for Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles (center). The picture was made on January .16, 1891,
during General Miles' campaign which crushed the Ghost Dance uprising of the Sioux tribe that winter.
"Buffalo Bill" became a celebrated wild West showman in 1883.
from the medicine bundle. Every male in the
tribe then shot an arrow into her body, fathers
or male relatives pulling bows for boys too
small to do so themselves.
The sacrifice was the climax, but not the
end of the ceremony. For the next three days
the entire village feasted and danced. The
sacrificial victim was supposed to represent the
Evening Star and the ceremony was intended
as a renewal of life on earth.
A Pawnee Lochinvar
The Pawnee apparently always disliked this
ceremony. One of the most romantic episodes
in Plains Indian history took place in connec
tion with it. The hero of this affair was a
young Pawnee chief named Petalesharo, who
was considered the handsomest and most dar
ing man in the tribe.
In 1818 the tribe was assembled to hold the
Morning Star sacrifice. The girl had been
lashed to the scaffold preparatory to the final
act, when Petalesharo stepped forward, dra
matically declaring that he intended to rescue
the girl or lay down his life in the attempt.
He leaped on the scaffold, cut the girl's
bonds and, seizing her, carried her rapidly
through the astonished crowd to a point where
two horses had been led. Placing her on one
and mounting the other, he rode swiftly away
with her until safe from pursuit. He then pre
sented her with the horse she was riding and
with food, and told her to return to her own
people, some 400 miles distant.
Petalesharo returned to his village. His
prominence and previous honors were such
that no attempt was made to punish him. It is
probable that most of his tribesmen admired
the unprecedented feat. Human sacrifice was
never again connected with this ceremony by
the Skidi-Pawnee.
The colorful paraphernalia of the Plains
Indian have lately been copied from coast to
coast, until they have almost standardized the
former multiplicity of local Indian costumes
and decorations.
Artists have looked upon him as the perfect
Indian model. From time to time his features
adorn some of our coins, paper currency,
stamps, and public monuments.
Like the eagle whose feathers he prized, the
Plains Indian has become almost a symbol of
America. His brave and fearless struggle to
retain the lands which he himself had so re
cently pioneered won the admiration and re
spect of all who opposed him.
No one by act or thought has more per
fectly symbolized the spirit of proud freedom
and independence which we cherish as an
ideal in our type of democracy.
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